Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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185. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the countries to which dairy products are exported by country, volume and value in 2016; the final figures for 2017 of total exports, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10783/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In 2017, Ireland exported dairy products, including dairy ingredients to 147 countries totalling over €4.6 billion worth of produce.  The following table, based on CSO data, outlines details in respect of values and tonnage by country. 

Irish dairy products have a highly rated and hard earned reputation in terms of quality, safety and sustainability, and this gives them a competitive edge in markets over the world.  My Department, in conjunction with other stakeholders, including the Irish dairy companies and agencies such as Bord Bia, are playing a key role in building the market for Irish dairy with intensive Ministerial trade mission programmes and other promotional work.  Against the backdrop of our efforts to significantly increase dairy output and grow the sector, export market diversification is of the upmost importance, and this is particularly true in the context of a post-Brexit scenario.

Aggregate dairy exports in 2017 increased by approx 17.6% in value against 2016, indicating another robust performance by the Irish dairy sector in international markets. In view of the volume of statistical data collected as part of agrifood trade statistics, some errors in respect of individual products may occur.  Where these anomalies are identified, the Department will liaise with the Central Statistics Office to highlight and amend the information as required